DV/Housing judgement....

[deepheat]

Not sure if people have seen/read about changes to the legal definitions of DV in relation to housing legislation following a supreme court ruling. Taking special interest myself because it is directly relevant to my line of work (I'm in housing and this will broaden my existing responsibilities in terms of rehousing victims of DV).

Put very simply (it will not end up being as simple as this): DV has been extended to incorporate verbal and emotional abuse as well as physical, acknowledging that this behaviour is both threatening and has the potential to escalate. The reality - as with most things like this - is that this has always been the case but when it comes to things like housing need etc. emotional and verbal abuse is significantly less recognised as a need for rehousing.

Here's a few links (apologies - have had to include the DM for balance - some comments are vile):

Daily Mail

Legal website

The Guardian

Anyway, having read some of the threads in this section over the last few months, I thought this might be interesting or helpful to people. I'd also be interested to find out people's thoughts. On one level, I obviously think that the extension of the definition is completely a good thing. On the other hand, I know that my local authority's budget for emergency accommodation is already spent and committed for 2011/12, so not sure how it will be possible to deal with the icnrease in cases. Overall though, definitely a good thing.

Thoughts?

I think the judge has lost it. There was some good comments made in the daily mail except some women saying it is ok for women to shout at men but not for men to shout at women.

Now if you have a disagreement with your wife sometimes it gets heated from both sides before it is sorted. Is this now abuse?

Hopw do we judge this type of abuse?

Dear MrSpoc. Are you familiar with the terms emotional and verbal abuse? They do not encompass the occasionally shouty argument.

How would you prove genuine emotional and verbal abuse. I am not for a moment saying it doesnt exist because it certainly does, but as there is no physical evidence, it would be very difficult to prove.

It is open to abuse (for want of a better word), by both sides.

More difficult to prove than ctuaal bruises, so I m not sure what help it would be. Good in principle though.

Considering that if you cannot/will not leave a verbally abusive relationship, the social services will put a supervision order on your children, I think it's a step in the right direction - and as for emergency/social housing, we need to build more.

When I was desparate to escape my abusive ex, i'd have happily lived in a hi rise flat. They don't take up much room, why can't we build some>?